|
Caption: In the late 70's and into the 80's, power-short CP found a convenient source of extra power in the form of under-utilized GO Transit commuter units. Instead of sitting around Guelph Junction or Willowbrook after working a week of 9-to-5 commuter service hauling passengers on the Milton or Lakeshore commuter lines, CP would often round up a bunch of GO units on Friday evening and send them on their merry way for a Toronto-Montreal-Windsor-Toronto weekend trip hauling 900-series freights, often with a CP unit or two thrown in for good measure. As long as they were back in time for Monday morning rush hour, the motive power guys at CP wouldn't get any angry phone calls from GO wondering where their commuter power was.
Here, the CP conductor gives a wave out of the cab of GO Transit F40PH 513, leading GO GP40-2W 700 and CP GP35 5025 on train #903 westbound through Campbellville on the Galt Sub, with no shortage of CP autoracks on the head-end. GO power was still being leased by CP in the late 80's and in the early F59PH era when some of GO's "40" series power was surplus. CP even managed to send a few GO units as far west as Alberta and Saskatchewan. Eventually the old GO fleet was dispersed to CN, Amtrak and EMD, and that was the end of CP leasing GO power on weekends (GO elected not to lease CP any of their brand new F59's to run ragged in weekend freight service).
Reg Button photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
|
Always loved Reg’s photos, thanks Dan !
Interesting! I have a Bill McArthur slide almost identical.
In the friendliest way possible and please correct me if my thoughts are wrong. I am going to bet there is a caboose on this 1980 train and the conductor will be found there. That will be the headend brakeman giving the photographer a wave.
GO power was leased By the Hour! And, it wasn’t cheap! Desperate, is the word.
Hmm, you’re probably right Larry.
Arnold: can you check the date on that one? I have May 3rd on this slide, but found a similar shot of what appears to be the same train by James Adeney noted as May 10th. Word down the grapevine probably got a few railfans out for it: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=8523
If it wasn’t for the freight, a hopper than then two tanks; the May 10th train would look almost the same. It featured GO 513, 514 and CP 5022. I have that also. Your May 3rd date is correct. Same leader adds to confusion !!!
Mr. Kennedy:
Throw them whatever they want, we need this. Lol. I heard they went right into the shops Monday Morning for traction motor changeouts. If it’s CP, I would not doubt this story. And they leased them all the way past I believe the mid 90′s. Only when the F59′s came online, did this stunt end. I also heard, that when GO traded in the GP40M-2′s into GMD on the final order of F59′s, they didn’t paint them, they ran around still clad in GO Transit colours. Someone on here will correct me on that one.
I’m sure it wasn’t cheap. The Government of Ontario probably charged them 10 arms and 10 legs, plus 100 fingers and toes for it.
Wonder how that F40 stood up to freight service? Probably sucked. Sorry for my choice of words ladies and gentlemen.
For the original poster, always great to see your pics in here.